Genesis: sax and piano
For his debut disc, saxophonist Luis González Garrido has chosen a succession of works that are fashioned from a single cell, or gesture. This process is even explicit in the title of the second piece, […]
ΚΡΙΤΙΚΕΣ
A terrific pairing of Schubert & Purcell (a la Warlock!)
There is a world primmer of “Schubert” here – the completion by Schubert scholar Brian Newbould of the String Trio, D 472. This is also the recording debut of the excellent Sakuntala Trio (Rebecca Chan, […]
As we wish everyone a Happy New Year, it is a time to look back at 2025 and celebrate
Musgrave: Mary, Queen of Scots – Heidi Stober & cast in the Act One party scene – English National Opera, 2025 (Photo: Ellie Kurttz) As we welcome in 2026, we take the opportunity to look […]
Abbey Simon’s Reissued Chopin on Vox
Abbey Simon’s recording of Chopin’s complete works for piano and orchestra has been respected since its first release in 1973 (then as part of the first quadraphonic Vox Box 3LP release, SXVBX 5126). What we […]
2025 in Opera Reviews: rare Rameau, rarer Handel, the Barber in Benidorm, Iphigenia in Blackheath, Wagner at Holland Park, Mary Queen of Scots returns, & Maria Stuarda as kinetic music theatre
Handel: Deidamia – Nicolò Balducci – Wexford Festival Opera (Photo: Pádraig Grant) Opera in 2025 featured a genuine rarity in Thea Musgrave’s undeservedly neglecting Mary, Queen of Scots, whilst Mary was also a focus in […]
Tears are my daily food: Handel Chandos Anthems from Musica Gloria
Recorded in Antwerp, this new disc of two of Handel’s Chandos Anthems and an Oboe Concerto from Musica Gloria, Tears are my daily food, acts as a reminder of this ensemble’s importance. Here are intimate […]
2025 in Concert Reviews: women’s voices, Barenboim defying age, rare melodrama, Ukraine at war, Big Baroque, and much-delayed Bliss
Bach: Mass in B Minor – Peter Whelan, Irish Baroque Orchestra & Choir, Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin The unusual, the rare and the undeservedly neglected often feature strongly in my own personal interests. 2025 featured […]
Best and Worst of the Year 2025
After a rather ho-hum start to the year, there ended up being many, many wonderful new releases – many fully deserving a “Best of the Year” accolade. And even though there were lots of fair-to-middlin’ […]
Letter from Florida: Manfred Honeck conducts Mahler’s 4th with New World Symphony in Miami
Mahler: Symphony No. 4 – Manfred Honeck, New World Symphony – New World Center, Miami Johann Strauss: Overture to Die Fledermaus, Haydn: Symphony No. 93 in D major; Mahler: Symphony No. 4; Lauren Snouffer, New World […]
Arthur Catterall: Mozart, Brahms & Franck
Preston-born Arthur Catterall was leader of the Hallé Orchestra (under Hamilton Hate) and later the BBC Symphony Orchesra (user Boult). He is of the same generation as Marie Hall (who also appears in this series); […]
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